Multiyear Deal with Nation’s Leading Cable Provider Provides Opportunities to Expand Reach of Network; VOD Content also Included

LOS ANGELES, March 15, 2005 – The Tennis Channel, which ran the North American premiere of "Facing Federer" yesterday (and will show it again throughout March), has signed a multiyear affiliation agreement with Comcast Cable, the leading cable operator in the United States. The arrangement provides for carriage opportunities for the traditional, linear network, as well as video on demand (VOD) content.

The Tennis Channel is a cable television network devoted to tennis and other racquet sports. The channel recently filmed the ATP All-Star Rally for Relief to run in April, and will be producing a behind-the-scenes special on the Stars For Stars evening on March 22.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with Comcast to bring The Tennis Channel’s programming to more customers,” said David Meister, CEO and chairman, The Tennis Channel. “It’s great to be offering viewers Tennis Channel video-on-demand content, taking fullest advantage of rapidly evolving distribution technology.”

“A number of tennis hotbeds are served by Comcast systems,” added Randy Brown, senior vice president, distribution, The Tennis Channel. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity to bring our top-tier tournaments, lifestyle programming and instructional series to Comcast customers around the country.”

YES!!! I'm so glad that Comcast made this decision. The Tennis Channel would be so awesome. None of that ESPN crap, showing recordings of Williams sisters while Guga and Federer are duking it out at Roland Garros. I always thought Comcast was a not so great cable company, but after this...oh man! More and better tennis coverage I can't wait! I did some reading and I think VOOM might be almost dead, and they were TTC's only real consistent provider, so the Tennis Channel probably looked to Comcast for a replacement. This is just a dream come true so far!

Angle Queen

03-18-2005, 01:05 PM

YES!!! I'm so glad that Comcast made this decision. The Tennis Channel would be so awesome. None of that ESPN crap, showing recordings of Williams sisters while Guga and Federer are duking it out at Roland Garros. I always thought Comcast was a not so great cable company, but after this...oh man! More and better tennis coverage I can't wait! I did some reading and I think VOOM might be almost dead, and they were TTC's only real consistent provider, so the Tennis Channel probably looked to Comcast for a replacement. This is just a dream come true so far!Don't get too excited yet. ESPN still has the contracts for the major tournaments and I doubt they're gonna share broadcasting rights with TTC. So we'll still get force-fed Amercian efforts (or lack thereof) at events like RG from ESPN. I am encouraged, however, about the prospect of getting coverage of the smaller events and would love to see more of the non-Top 10 players. But I'll believe I get TTC...when Comcast actually includes it in their line-up. With my luck, they'll include it in some package...that I don't want the rest of. Then the other half and I will have to argue over whether it's worth it.

knight_ley

03-18-2005, 04:05 PM

Yayy!!!! :bigclap:

I wonder how long it will take Comcast to actually provide it though :confused: